Critic Reviews

Viking: Battle for Asgard offers a surprisingly deep experience, one which doesn't easily compare to any other current-gen release. The gameplay mash-up works very well, as the game's three islands extend easily into more than 10 hours of well paced, highly varied good times. Big ups to Creative Assembly and publisher Sega for a job well done on this one; Viking is easily one of the best video game releases in this first quarter of 2008.

The spot effects, the music and the rest all tie in nicely and I have to say that Viking was a totally excellent experience that merits the score. A few niggles keep it from being a really mega game but overall it’s one of those games that should be played if you have a hankering for an open world game that’s a bit different from the best sellers out there.

The ending to Viking is a pretty big disappointment, but at least the game is a ton of fun on the way there. The large fights you participate in are a fresh change from most action games, and while Viking might have benefited from more RPG elements along with the game's impressive action, I can't complain too much. The story is pretty barebones and the formula inside the game repeats itself just a tad too much, but there's just no substitute for wading into a fight with a dozen of the undead and making sure that by the end, every one of them has lost their head as well as at least one arm each. Viking is a solid action game with a couple of impressive twists, and while it could have been a lot better if the developers were more ambitious, this one is still a winner.

I loved this game from the title screen to the closing credits. I basically divided the 3-island game into three separate gameplay sessions and had a great time searching for treasure, rescuing Vikings, building my army, and unleashing all the powers of Asgard on Hel’s minions and eventually Hel herself. If you crave the brutality of God of War with the adventurous spirit of World of Warcraft, and the massive battles of games like Kingdom Under Fire or N3 then Viking: Battle for Asgard is an adventure you don’t want to miss.

All in all, Viking: Battle for Asgard is one of the best games so far in 2008 and it should not be passed up. This is a title for action fans as well as hack-and-slash fans. The strategy element of the game is left to a minimum, but there is a hint of it. It is a well-rounded game, and if it weren’t for the sound effects--and occasional lack thereof--it would be a near perfect title.

Viking is far from perfect, but it does show a good concept with an unfortunate lack of innovation and variation. If Sega and developer Creative Assembly set out to create a Viking 2, hopefully it’ll provide some of what’s missing here.

Viking is a great title and one that everyone should experience. The epic battles will have you stopping and looking around the battlefield in awe, not the greatest time to marvel, that's granted, but you can't help it! Who could ask for more... Vikings, blood and full scale battles. A few problems here and there, but nothing that takes the shine away too much from a great title.

Viking – Battle for Asgard is one of the games that I didn’t let go until I finished it. Although there are some annoying things, like the interaction with the environment or the limited variety of enemies, this title distinguishes itself through other elements. It’s the kind of game with good gameplay, nice graphics, spectacular battles and over the top brutality, with the RPG elements being neglected a little. More importantly, even the more pressing issues – like the fact that you cannot run from the enemies or that the game can be repetitive after a while – fade when face with the addictive gameplay. There is no doubt that Creative Assembly studios can continue with a greatly improved sequel which can contain this title’s missing elements and I shall wait it with great interest.

I am genuinely confused as to why I hadn’t heard of Viking: Battle for Asgard before it hit store shelves. While it isn’t perfect and the title is far from as impressive as Oblivion, the gameplay is tight enough to justify a rental. With some advertising behind it I could easily have seen Viking selling extremely well until a bigger game hit, and with some more time in the oven and a fall release, I could see the game being a contender in the holiday season. However, due to whatever circumstances preceded its launch, Viking fell between the cracks. I still suggest playing the title, and while I am not sure if everyone will enjoy it as much as I did I believe the battle is worth fighting.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a very good game which falls just short of being a highly recommended title due to many niggling issues and somewhat repetitive gameplay. The combat is enjoyable and the level design is excellent. At the end of the day however all the little problems put a dampener on the atmosphere and game enjoyment. If you are interested, a rental would be a wise choice because it would be a shame to miss out completely on such a fun title.

Anyway, your poor mortal brain already performs billions of calculations every second: walking, breathing, and keeping you dry in the groinal region (hopefully). So after a long day of left, right, in, out, clench, clench, release, why not enjoy a game that doesn’t challenge every synapse in your cerebrum to pop and fizzle? Especially when the sweet release of olde-school slaughter in Viking: Battle for Asgard can numb your brain at the same time as your thumbs.

Best of all, though, are the sweeping battles where you fight alongside hundreds of beautifully-realised allies, the skirmishes becoming increasingly chaotic as the game unfolds, and immensely thrilling as you chop through legions of enemies to butcher the biggest and baddest barbarian in their ranks.

All in all the game is best described as a cross between God of War (for its combat), Crackdown (for its open world) and Dynasty Warriors (for the large scale battles). If you enjoyed any of those games, you will likely enjoy Viking, and it’s a must buy. Although I would recommend not playing it for long periods of time, due to the mildly repetitive nature of the tasks, the payoff the game gives the player in the form of satisfying combat and mighty battles makes the game well worth it.

Viking: Battle for Asgard has certainly surprised me, to be honest I didn’t really know what to expect and therefore I thought that this would be yet another run of the mill hack and slash game, however there is more to it than that thanks to the addition of the rune magic, dragon summoning and free roaming landscapes. This a certainly a game I would not think twice about buying, I really enjoyed it and think it is well worth anyone’s cash, it may be a shallow game to some but to me it was a game well worthy of a place in my console.

Viking: Battle for Asgard isn’t going to be challenging Crackdown or GTA for the sandbox crown any time soon, but it’s one of the strongest free-roam action games in recent memory. Despite the repetition that plagues the game’s progression, the satisfying combat and epic army battles help it stand out. Fans of exploration, Viking myths, and limbs separating from torsos will find much to love here.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a very enjoyable game; it features a very accessible control scheme, graphically rich environments, highly intense battles and an immersive atmosphere. But, like all games it has its issues also. The issues in this game, some of them, cannot be excused as they can affect the full game experience. The issue of unfinished sound effects is quite unacceptable for example. There are also some minor issues with navigation and camera controls, and the events of the game are fairly predictable. Then again, I suppose it depends what you’re looking for in a game which may interest you into buying and playing this. If you’re looking for a hack and slash with a skilled and in depth control scheme, then you’re really not going to find this here, but if you’re looking for a hack and slash adventure, which gives you a little exploration and choice and also lets you take part in epic scale battles, then this might just be the game for you.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a solid action game that takes elements from Creative Assembly’s Total War series, and adds quick time events and sand-box gameplay. It’s a great romp if you don’t mind the button bashing.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is a largely enjoyable romp that introduces a slightly new spin on a tried and true genre. While elements like running errands, collecting gold and buying new combat moves feel very old-school, this third person adventure has a lot going for it - a full open, graphically gorgeous and atmospheric world to explore, well-implemented elements of stealth, fantastically gory combat with great enemy responses, the liberation of encampments, and the massive battles where hundreds of allies and enemies clash to retake cities, backed up by catapults and a dragon or three. It's not groundbreaking and Skarin's slow pace can make it a chore at times, but a lot of love and creativity has been injected, and the result is an experience that will entertain the majority of gamers.

It’s almost a little disappointing when the first massive battle ends because it is so exciting, but that’s one of the things will drive you to keep playing the game. But that pretty much sums up the experience of Viking: Battle for Asgard as a whole--it feels disappointing at first, but it quickly moves beyond that and turns into a game that, despite its shortcomings, is just plain fun.

Viking: Battle For Asgard is a very refreshing game, but because of its negative points no classic. Still i would recommend the game to everyone who wants to play in a full scale war. Let's hope there will be sequel and if they can get rid of the negative points, then we can talk about a classic!

Viking is one of those games that does just enough right to make it a fun game but lacks the substance to keep you playing over and over again. Once you’ve cleared the first map the rest of the game feels very repetitive which can be an issue with many hack 'n slash-type games. The combat in the game always felt nice and responsive since the majority of the combat is handled by pressing two buttons. There was always the sick sense of satisfaction from chopping enemies into several pieces. The special super combos were always spectacular looking and were usually easy enough to pull off after one or two attempts.

Overall, the combat is a cinch to grasp a hold of. When you die in Viking, you’ll be resurrected at the home base of the island you currently are on. Players won’t have too much trouble with the controls as they are tight and have no need for adjusting any annoying cameras. The last thing that Viking does well is provide great voice-overs with real emotion behind the delivered dialogue. The only issue with Viking is that once it’s completed, there isn’t anything to drag you back for a second play through. It’s a “one and done” title all the way through.

It is difficult to overlook the game’s technical and inner-working shortcomings. (Three whole islands and only a handful of people to talk to? Please.) But that being said, it’s still an immensely fun game. There are some great Achievements to unlock on the Xbox 360 version, and in the first half of the game they’re handed out like so much candy (an initially compelling reason to keep pushing on), but beyond those rewards, I can’t stress enough how addictive and fun this title is to play. Here’s hoping a sequel is already on the cards with a mind to fix all of the issues mentioned above (and whispered under gamers’ breaths as they play no doubt), but for now, this is a good start to a potential franchise that perhaps didn’t get its best start, if you know what I mean.

Scandinavian history isn't the most encountered setting for video games. We've seen every nook and cranny of Greek mythology, but the British Isles have yet to be explored. Viking: Battle for Asgard is here to make a difference by showing the way of Skarin, a battle-fueled Viking who must save the lands from the Underworld Queen, Hel. The principal of the land, Freya, is a helpful deity that guides you across the continents' landscape as you liberate the overrun islands from Hel's undead minions. It's a traditional, overused good versus bad setup that doesn't develop to high means, but the story isn't what makes this title enjoyable. Instead, it's the frantic, hard hitting, epic battles that showcase the game's true potential. Unfortunately, that potential misses out on bigger action due to a thin layer of gameplay mechanics, but it doesn't mean there isn't a healthy amount of fun to be had.

Despite a few setbacks, Viking is a remarkable hack n’ slash based game that accomplishing its goal of being a fun and addictive game. Hopefully, the numbers are good enough for Sega and Creative to start working on a follow up to Battle for Asgard. The core mechanics have been built and I would love to see this concept flushed out in another episode in the brash world of the Nordic Viking. Viking: Battle for Asgard is a must have purchase for gamers who love the hack n’ slash genre. For all those who are wary, I can confidently recommended this game as safe rental for any gamer who wants to see what the Viking life is all about.

Viking is the kind of game if you go into it expecting a masterpiece you are going to come away a little disappointed. However, if you go in looking to have a great time with a gory hack and slash you will be hard pressed to find disappointment. The combat may be shallow, the story non-existent and the fetch quests tedious, but I still managed to have a blast with Sega's latest offering. If you are a fan of the genre don't hesitate to give it a whirl, everyone else will want to settle for a rental.

Should you buy it? Well, it’s not the longest game out there – most people seem to be finishing it in around 14 hours, and there’s not a huge amount of replay value to be had once you’re done, especially if you played it on hard mode right off the bat. If, however, you’re just looking for a bit of dumb medieval violence, and you’re willing to see past the game’s technical flaws, you could do a hell of a lot worse.

As it stands, Viking is a solid rental if you like bloody action games. If you enjoy the first few hours and can imagine
replaying them six or seven times and still have fun, then it's probably worth your money.

All in all, this is an extremely uncomplicated title that has its fair share of fun due to the hilariously brutal combat animations. Unfortunately, there is little more than a linear quest track and a simple hack-and-slash battle mechanic. Therefore, it is quite possible that some will give up on the game after passing the first zone. However, the speed with which you'll accomplish objectives, gain abilities, and move the story forward is fast enough that most are likely to finish the game. I'd suggest renting the title because it can be easily completed in a weekend, has no lasting value, and yet is fun enough that it's worth the $8 fee or the time in your rental queue.

Viking is just long enough to begin to bore you with the repetitive nature of the gameplay, but luckily ends before you begin ripping your hair out. The slowdown during the large battles isn’t gamebreaking, but it is noticeable. And I would have imagined a huge muscled Viking warrior running around the lands cutting down foes demands a rousing score. Asgard is barren of sound or music. Unless you like hearing a burly man run, there isn’t much in the way of sound design to enthrall you. Overall this is a surprisingly fun game to pick up for a day or two, perhaps a weekend rental over the summer when you’re in dire need of something entertaining to play.

The game lavishes graphical effects on the player and even in the battles; we found that the frame-rate stayed smooth. Character models are detailed and animation smooth and silky. The textures are crisp and there’s an effective sense of scale being shown. The game’s a well rounded product, and even with it’s arguable repetitive combat, it still offers an enjoyable Norse romp. It can be tedious in parts and it’s ‘mission’ structure fails to vary, but it’s still worthy of its score.

As it stands, Viking is an enjoyable action-adventure with more than its fair share of niggling issues, so if you're still looking for a god of war to worship, you might want to give this one a rent or demo rather than your hard-earned.

A solidly constructed game then with a few rough edges and annoyances that need ironing out for the inevitable sequel. It did leave me strangely wanting more though, and more Viking-based games can only be a good thing. I know I keep re-emphasising this but if you’re a single-platform owner and don’t have access to a PS2 or a PSP, this is as God-of-War as you’re going to get, with quite a few influences from other hack and slash action games thrown in for good measure too. Just don't expect to expend much brain power and don't expect the sugar rush provided by Viking to last that long either.

In the end Viking is a bit of a guilty pleasure. It's kind of like admitting to liking Bad Boys 2, in that you know it's a dumb movie, full of moments no right thinking human should find entertaining, but you can't help yourself. Don't be fooled into thinking Viking is anything more than mindless fun though. Serious connoisseurs of the genre are better off waiting for Ninja Gaiden II - a game in which you won't be able to defeat the majority of enemies using a single move.

Then there are the sound issues. Climbing rope sounds like it has been treated with some kind of alarm system that boosts the volume up to your system’s maximum (while not alerting nearby enemies) and then you’ll kick open a massive gate only to have it remain entirely silent, but ultimately this wasn’t enough to tarnish the game for me. Sure many aspects of Viking should have been done better, but with some great visuals and some heart poundingly dramatic music (and some questionable voice over accents) the game remains a strong and entertaining experience for the amount of time you’re able to stand it. If you’re teetering on the edge of it being your kind of game, rent it without a second thought, but don’t expect to play it through again unless you’re hunting achievements for completing it on the harder difficulty (and it doesn’t seem that different to me).

Viking is a great game, with some great promise, but this feels like a trial run. Hopefully it will sell enough to garner a sequel, one I would be very anxious to pick up on day one. If you are a fan of 300 or Lord of the Rings this is a must buy. Viking accomplishes what it set out to do; great battles, a beautiful world, a long story, and just the right balance of difficulty - it just missed out on the finer points. A little polish and you have a new franchise that will surely grab a large part of the gaming population's interest.

The action does deliver its fair share of thrills, but its repetitive and simple nature quickly wears thin. Dismemberments and decapitations lose their cool quickly as well-see if you can get excited after you've beheaded your hundredth enemy. The epic battles that cap each level are exciting but they occur far too infrequently. A climactic battle that lasts five minutes isn't very appealing when you have to spend a couple hours monotonously battling low-level enemies to get to it. Viking's bloody hack-and-slash action undoubtedly holds appeal, yet the shallow, repetitive nature of its gameplay keeps it from being more than an amusing trifle.

Viking: Battle for Asgard is beautiful as far as offering a hurricane of blood and gore can be beautiful, but it's easy to get bogged down in the repetitive combat. Sword Runes that imbue your weapons with magical energy mix things up a little, but really only serve to add cool particle effects to the butchery. There is fun to be had here, but you're going to have to meet Viking half-way if you really want to get the most out of it.

After a couple hours of playing Viking: Battle for Asgard, I started thinking that it bears a resemblance to that other recent God of War wannabe, THQ's Conan. Like Conan, this title has you hacking and slashing your way through hordes of baddies in grotesque, elaborate fashion while occasionally stopping to quickly tap a button to untie a rope or open a treasure chest. While Conan was somewhat entertaining for a bit thanks to its no-holds-barred action, Viking is a bit more tedious thanks to the inclusion of some adventuring and exploration. Don't get me wrong, these traits can be fantastic in the right context (Zelda, Okami, RPGs, etc), but not in a sub-par God of War clone. There simply isn't enough in Viking's world that warrants exploration. Sure, you can run around and acquire mead and gold, but there's no feeling of discovery or real reward to it all. As a hack-and-slash action game, it fails because of the tedious environments and exploration sections.

Overall, the game was enjoyable to play. Difficult and frustrating at times, especially some of the areas where it was key to use stealth to infiltrate Legion camps and achieve a goal. But after some trial and error, and mapping out your plan of attack or non attack for that matter, you can always get through a map. The maps were vast and the tasks to complete were many in the end. The game itself will probably only take around 6 hours to completely finish which may make it more of a rental than a purchase for some folks. Viking offers to levels of difficulty for you to play, and the higher difficulty does add a bit of a challenge, but its not overly difficult and may actually in fact not be considered difficult by advanced gamers. I think the game could have benefit more from a deeper leveling up, a stronger storyline, and possibly a wider variety of weaponry. Again, good game and I would recommend anyone to play it, but it does seem to be lacking in some areas.

Viking had its moments and bordered on enjoyable at times, but these enjoyable moments were interspersed with too much tedium. It's a shame, because a Viking game in an open world and with entire armies of berserkers at your command should be fun. If you're a big fan of Vikings or hack and slash action games, then it's worth a rental, but you'll probably grow tired of it by the time it's due back.

I can forgive a few lost words about hope and parallelograms. Viking is a weekend of relaxing ultraviolence, giving Xbox owners an easy thousand points to chase and PS3 owners a short, sweet adventure to pad their shelf. Best of all, nobody has to feel guilty about it.

For a game that promised so much, Viking really doesn’t do much in the way of delivering. Being that it’s really just combat, combat, combat, it doesn’t do nearly enough to make all that fighting interesting. Enemies are adequate, as is your array of attacks, but there’s nothing to elevate the whole affair from half a step above a cure for insomnia. Yes, there are a lot of brutal animations with head lopping and limp chopping, but it’s just window dressing on a very average hack-and-slasher, and that doesn’t justify hours upon hours of repetitive button-mashing for most people. If the epic battles were better that at least would have been something to get excited about, but they too fall a little flat. There might be something here worth sampling if you’re really a melee fighting game fanatic, but those less dedicated to the genre are going to want to give this one a pass.

Short and sweet: Viking could've been great. The massive battles are a neat idea, the world can seem huge, and while simplistic, the hack-and-slash gameplay is fun for a while. Sadly, the problems in the game make sure that none of those good things can standout too proudly. The battles stumble thanks to chug, the worlds get repetitive, and when you're not really interested in the story or your ultimate goal, hack-and-slash gets on your nerves no matter how many times you cut a guy in two. There's still content here to like and enjoy, but I'd suggest sifting through it on the weekend as a rental.

There are two types of people who will enjoy this game. People who like very accessible and simple to pick-up games, and people under the age of 18. The least said about this the better, of course. If any hack and slash addicts are so desperate that they go out and buy this game, they will find they're trying to scratch a maddening itch with a feather duster. Most of the marks for this one are for its shear accessibility. Anyone should be able to play this game through to completion without having to go near the manual. It also has some half-decent graphics, a very stable engine, and the big battles are kind of fun; but other than that Viking: Battle for Asgard comes up lacking.

As a result, this game is fine as an inexpensive rental for mature Microsoft Xbox 360 or Sony PlayStation 3 gamers interested in fantasy and violence — with a strong emphasis on the latter. It's not a horrible adventure, but a few extra months of testing and tweaking might have resolved some of its problems.

Viking: Battle for Asgard has good graphics and some solid ideas at its core, but the lack of content and variety really holds it back. I immediately liked Viking, but as the repetition set in and made it clear that I was in for another six-to-eight hours of the same few activities, my initial impression gave way to disappointment.

Despite these issues, we appreciate Viking for what it is, a semi-mindless and bloody adventure. Sega missed a grand opportunity to make it epic, but the sweet decapitations are a decent way to pass the time. Just don't expect to form a deep connection with Skarin or care that you saved anyone meaningful. Viking: Battle for Asgard has its moments, but it fails to stand out amongst its competition, making it an ideal weekend rental.

While Viking isn’t a total disappointment, the biggest problem here is a matter of the game feeling wholly and entirely unfinished. There are a number of great ideas at play here and the game itself is a wonderful idea but it just falls flat in key areas. However it’s impossible to escape the feel that this was rushed out the doors partially unfinished. This factor and the total lack of replay value seriously harm what is a fairly enjoyable experience.

In the end, the repetitive nature of the game kills what could have been a stellar title. Besides a few, minor drops in frame rate and some grass popping in, Viking is a standout title that performs relatively well and delivers a gorgeous looking game with great draw distances, rolling seas, flying dragons, character details and simple-yet-serving textures. Great dialogue mask an otherwise missing soundtrack and rounds out the audio side of things, but the limited scope of gameplay really makes Viking a must-rent, rather than a must-buy.

Ultimately Viking: Battle for Asgard is almost a complete waste of Norse mythology. It’s bloody and epic, but the boring, repetitive combat and hours you spend doing un-Vikingly menial tasks leaves a sour taste in the mouth, washed down with a swig of bitter, pointless stealth idiocy. Viking might be worth trying out for a weekend or at a vastly reduced price, but to spend good money on the game is leaving yourself open for all the raping and pillaging that Skarin and his friends don’t get up to.

Unfortunately the terrific visuals simply aren’t enough to save the game from its increasingly monotonous gameplay. As fun as Viking is for the first half of the game, the repetitiveness will take its toll and with the option of only a single player campaign it will leave you reluctant to return to Midgard once it is over.

And I'd kill for some kind of run button or horse to ride. In fact, killing yourself is the fastest way to get around in many cases. There are so many more awful things to talk about so I'll just leave it at this: do not buy.

The Creative Assembly already had a winning formula for an action game set in stone with their past hit, Spartan: Total Warrior, but it seems their over eagerness to try something new got the better of them. Viking: Battle for Asgard falls short on various fronts, and never delivers a truly nonstop action game that we have come to dream of from such a talented developer. With so many problems, unbalanced combat, and no multiplayer, it is hard to recommend anyone to buy this game, let alone rent it. Give it a try if you are a fan of the subject matter, if not, there are plenty of better action titles out there for you to enjoy instead.

If mashing buttons to kill hundreds upon hundreds of enemies is all you're looking for in a game, you very possibly may enjoy Viking: Battle for Asgard. However, if you like original ideas, a story, meaningful exploration, a working camera, or fun, you'll want to take a pass on this one-way journey to boredom.

After that? Well, you'll be several hundred Gamerscore points richer, for what that's worth, but you're left feeling empty with zero incentive to go back and replay the game, and no multiplayer mode. You'll have hammered your way through hours of mindless, grinding hackandslash, and probably wondered why you bothered at all. The best thing you can say about the game is that it's technically impressive, and the openworld structure is a good idea - but that's it. The game's central purpose seems to be to make dismemberment as easy to pull off as possible, but as soon as that novelty has worn off you're left with a hollow, repetitive experience which quickly loses its initial appeal. With Devil May Cry 4 content to stand still, and Viking failing to build on its initial promise, it's all eyes on Tecmo and Ninja Gaiden 2 to inject some life into the hackandslash genre . For now, save your money.

You can sense the confusion of what the developers really wanted from Viking. The combat system feels like it’s geared towards taking on small groups of enemies and falls apart when you are facing a larger number of opponents. The forced stealth sections (which are a royal pain) just don’t work because it’s an action game, your character is not Sam Fisher and he never will be. It’s these kinds of conflicts that prevent Viking from being a cohesive, fun experience. This is a shame, because had the developers really done their homework on Norse mythology and looked at successful action games such as Ninja Gaiden, God of War or Devil May Cry then this could actually have been something worth playing. Unfortunately there is so much wrong with it that it doesn’t even manage to reach average status.

Viking: Battle for Asgard falls too far below the benchmark set by those that have gone before. There’s the nagging sensation that a capable game is suffocating underneath the surface, but because of the way it’s implemented, it falls short of being anything other than forgettable and repetitive. Ultimately, this makes it hard to see who would get anything out of playing it. Consequently, it is difficult to recommend.

If this were a review of the game’s screenshot potential it’d be right up there in the rarefied air of Mount Average, rather than mired in the mud of Subpar Canyon. For fans of nice scenery, I would certainly suggest splitting a rental with a friend or stealing a copy, just to take in the sights. So much effort has gone into making the game look attractive, though, that the gameplay quickly runs out of things to say about itself and becomes the archetypal one-trick pony. Raise army, find gold, buy upgrades, do execrable stealth section, attack enemy town, fight boss, get teleported to next island, raise army, find gold…